Workshop inspired by Herts research makes Manchester debut after London film success
A workshop based on Herts research on how filmmakers tell stories portraying migration, identity and belonging has made its Manchester debut this week, having already provided the catalyst for a critically acclaimed short film in London.
Dr James Harvey, senior lecturer in film and media at the University of Hertfordshire’s School of Creative Arts, delivered his workshop on diaspora film practices – based on his research into the field – at Manchester arts centre HOME.
Dr Harvey was joined by Tyrelle Boyce, a member of The Spit Game, a London-based film and music collective championing young Black creativity. Tyrelle starred in Sausage Rolls and Jollof Rice,a short film inspired by Dr Harvey’s London workshops, which uses dark comedy to explore identity, tokenism, and the politics of representation in the British film industry.
The film and workshop collaboration was funded through the University’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) award, which backs projects that help translate arts and humanities research into real-world, non-academic benefit. Dr Harvey now hopes to secure further funding to run more workshops around the country later in the year.
Sausage Rolls and Jollof Rice, written and directed by Benjamin Turner, premiered at the Rich Mix in London last year and went on to be nominated for Best Short Film at the BronzeLens Film Festival. The festival, which took place in Atlanta in August, celebrates and promotes the work of independent Black, Asian and ethnically diverse filmmakers from around the world – and winners automatically qualify for the Oscars.
Dr Harvey said:
“The primary aim of Sausage Rolls and Jollof Rice was to develop consciousness for young people around the importance of culture for those with roots both outside and inside the UK. To receive recognition at an Oscar-qualifying festival was very special.”
Over the last year, Dr Harvey and members of The Spit Game have shown the film in schools around London while running Q&A sessions and related activities. As well as hopes for a UK tour following their Manchester workshop, they will also begin work on a new film project later in the year.
Dr Harvey is programme leader for the University’s online distance learning Global MA in Film and Television, and author of John Akomfrah, published by Bloomsbury in 2023. His upcoming book on contemporary diaspora practices in British film, TV, documentary and video, Diaspora Screen Aesthetics, will be published by Bloomsbury next year.
Find out more about studying film and media at the University of Hertfordshire.